Stephen Biddix

Burlington

Reporter at WPTZ-TV (South Burlington, VT)

Reporter at WNNE-TV (White River Junction, VT)

Reporter at NBC Chicago

Articles

Burlington mayor's budget proposal sparks continued business backlash

3 days ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

As Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak finalizes her 2026 fiscal year budget, she’s proposing to extend a 2.5% meals and alcohol tax that was set to return to 2% at the end of June. She said the extended increase aims to sustain community services without heavily increasing municipal taxes. “It's something that frankly we need the revenue to do what is being asked of us again by downtown.
Vermont lawmakers hope to strike Education reform deal by June 16th

4 days ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

State lawmakers in Vermont are still working to finalize an education reform bill that could significantly overhaul how education is funded and managed in the state. Hopes for a deal late Friday failed to materialize, but a new deadline has been set for the Veto Session, which is slated for June 16. “We just didn’t come to a conclusion,” said Sen.
Lawmakers send bill that changes state's response to homelessness to Gov. Phil Scott

1 week ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

CALLED THE BOARD'S ACTIONS A QUOTE "FARCICAL COVER FOR A HOSTILE TAKEOVER." TURNING TO MONTPELIER NOW. WHERE A BILL IS HEADED TO GOVERNOR SCOTT'S DESK THAT WOULD DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE STATE'S APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS AND THE CURRENT MODEL KNOWN AS THE HOTEL MOTEL PROGRAM. UNDER THE BILL COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING SHELTER for the UNHOUSED. THE HOTEL MOTEL PROGRAM WILL REMAIN FOR ONE BEFORE YEAR BEFORE THE TRANSITION BEGINS.
Gov. Scott urges lawmakers for a quicker timeline of education reform

1 week ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

WE EXPECT LAWMAKERS TO FINISH THEIR WORK ON THIS BILL TOMORROW... BEFORE SENDING IT TO THE GOVERNOR. THIS COMES AS VERMONT LAWMAKERS CONTINUE WORKING ON POTENTIALLY DRASTIC EDUCATION REFORMS. TODAY GOVERNOR SCOTT TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE PROCESS STANDS NOW, WITH THE SESSION ALREADY IN OVERTIME. SCOTT SAYS THAT HE WON'T SUPPORT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL. HE SAYS THE CURRENT TIMELINE IS TOO SLOW AND THAT VERMONT ALREADY SPENDS TOO MUCH ON EDUCATION WITH SUB-PAR RESULTS.
Vermont lawmakers look to finalize Kids Code bill to limit social media use, ban cellphones in schools

1 week ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS AND ADMISSIONS CHANGES. I'M LEIGH WALDMAN REPORTING. LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING TO ADVANCE TWO BILLS THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW YOUR KIDS USE PHONES AND THE CONTENT THEY SEE. A "KIDS CODE" BILL IS ON THE WAY TO GOVERNOR SCOTT'S DESK. IT AIMS TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT WOULD PUT PRIVACY MEASURE'S IN PLACE AND AIMS TO PREVENT KIDS FROM SCROLLING FOR HOURS. LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO APPROVE A BILL TOMORROW THAT INCLUDES A SCHOOL CELL PHONE BAN.
VT cellphone ban in schools approaches final steps

1 week ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

Vermont may soon join the growing number of states banning cellphones in schools, as lawmakers work to pass a bill before the legislative session ends. The state Senate approved the measure Tuesday, and the House aims to push it through before the session's close. The proposed ban would require schools to implement a "phone-free" policy by the 2026-2027 school year. The policy would be created by the Agency of Education and other stakeholders by the end of this year.
Vermont Senators work into the night with still no education plan in place

2 weeks ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS SINCE FILED AN APPEAL AGAINST THE RULING. AFTER A NEARLY 12 HOUR DAY IN MONTPELIER... STATE SENATORS ADJOURNED THIS evening. with STILL NO COMPROMISE MET. FOR AN EDUCATION REFORM BILL. EARLIER IN THE DAY... SENATE DEMOCRATS VOTED TO SCRAP THE PLAN THEY CREATED OVER THE PAST MONTH. instead...looking TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE HOUSE'S PLAN INSTEAD. THE HOUSE'S ENACTS A FOUNDATION FORMULA FOR THE 2029-2030 SCHOOL YEAR AND DECIDES REDISTRICTING NEXT SESSION.
Vermont enacts law against illegal corpse handling

2 weeks ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

return for Sunday into early next week. THERE IS A NEW STATUTE IN VERMONT FOR PEOPLE ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY MOVING OR TRYING TO DESTROY A HUMAN CORPSE. GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW THIS MORNING DURING A PRIVATE, CEREMONIAL EVENT. THE BILL MAKES IT A FELONY FOR SOMEONE TO TRANSPORT OR DESTROY A CORPSE AND AN AGGRAVATED FELONY IF THERE'S EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST SOMEONE DESTROYED A DEAD BODY TO CONCEAL A CRIME. THE LAW FOLLOWS THE MURDER OF 82 YEAR OLD ROBERTA MARTIN LAST JULY.
Vermont Senate approves bill that would end Hotel-Motel Voucher Program

2 weeks ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

The Hotel-Motel Voucher Program could be ending in the next year, according to state lawmakers. The pandemic-era initiative has allowed people to live in some hotels and motels for free using a state-provided voucher. On Thursday, the Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that would redirect state funding to a different shelter program. If that bill is successful, the Hotel-Motel Program would end next summer.
Governor Scott pushes for education reform amid legislative uncertainty

2 weeks ago | mynbc5.com | Stephen Biddix

Friday. AS LAWMAKERS IN MONTPELIER HAVE WRAPPED UP MOST OF THEIR WORK... ONE BIG QUESTION THAT STILL REMAINS IS...WILL AN EDUCATION REFORM BILL BE PASSED THIS YEAR. GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT DISCUSSED THAT TODAY AT A NEWS BRIEFING. NBC5 STEPHEN BIDDIX WAS THERE AND JOINS US LIVE IN SOUTH BURLINGTON WITH MORE ON WHAT HE HAD TO SAY... WE WERE EXPECTING THE FULL SENATE TO VOTE ON THEIR EDUCATION PROPOSAL TODAY...